By Matthew Henry

SYDNEY: The Sydney Home Show kicked off this morning with home appliance and consumer electronics companies including Samsung, Philips, Fisher & Paykel and Motorola preparing for a weekend of direct consumer marketing as they show off their latest products to the public.

Now in its 19th year, according to organisers, the HIA Sydney Home Show will run until Sunday May 13 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.

Exhibitors at the Home Show represent a broad spectrum of home-related businesses, from home furniture and fittings makers to home appliance brands, showing off everything from cooking appliances to consumer electronics.

Samsung Electronics has a noticeable presence at this year’s show with a large stand displaying a comprehensive range of the company’s products including whitegoods, floorcare, computer monitors, audiovisual products and the company’s new cooking range.

In reference to the Home Show’s consumer focus, Samsung product manager – whitegoods, Mike Lilly, said, “This is a great opportunity for us to get to speak directly to our customers”.

Philips is showing off  its diamond-encrusted Ambilight LCD TV worth over $250,000,with 2,250 individual diamonds embedded in the TV’s sparkling bezel.

The LCD was built to commemorate the one millionth Ambilight TV sold worldwide.

Fisher & Paykel has set up a gourmet kitchen which will run cooking demonstrations every hour with some of Sydney’s top chefs using the brand’s appliances to show onlookers the potential of their home appliances.

Motorola is exhibiting its Bluetooth wireless technology line-up including products which allow Bluetooth mobile phones to stream music wirelessly to a home stereo, home theatre system or headphones.

Other exhibitors of note to electrical retailers at the show include Clive Peeters, Dimplex, Omega Smeg, Ilve, Electrolux, Jura, Beefeater barbecues, Nespresso and Kleenmaid.